Magazine Fall/Winter 2012 - Austin College Magazine

▲Roots. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .After Wynne Chapel was built at Austin College in 1958, the Toddie Lee Wynne family of Dallas,who provided funding for the chapel, decided it needed something more. After muchdeliberation as to the best possible choice, an Aeolian-Skinner grand pipe organ was installedin the chapel in 1963, also with gifts from the family.Aeolian-Skinner has been recognized as one of the most important organ builders in theUnited States. It started as the Skinner Organ Company in 1901 and merged with the AeolianCompany in 1932. The company built several high-quality organs, including the Wynne Chapeladdition, before ending business in 1972. When Mr. Wynne was considering organs, he wroteto Austin College President John D. Moseley: “The first question, as to the builder, to practicallyall organists is simply one answer—the Aeolian-Skinner. This is considered by most organists tobe the finest built and best musical instrument.”The late Richard Tappa, longtime music faculty member and College organist, came toAustin College partly because of the fine quality organ. Anna Laura Page, former first lady ofAustin College and an accomplished organist, said, “Because of its historical nature, we need tostrive to keep this wonderful instrument in good working order. It is a spectacular instrumentwith incredible acoustic qualities, and I am so proud to beable to play it on occasion.” Anna Laura recalled that a fewyears ago, a doctoral student doing his dissertation onAeolian-Skinner organs viewed the Wynne Chapel organand was very excited to find it still in place and so wellcared for—a tribute to the careful attention of Dr. Tappa.Majestic MusicA Pipe Organ PrimerTo produce the sounds made by a pipe organ, air must passthrough the rows of pipes as keys are played. Water wheelsand hand-pumped bellows are among the methods thathelped blow air through the pipes before electricity, but‘modern’ pipe organs are powered by a motor-driven fan. Air ispumped into the reservoir, which holds the air under constantpressure to produce a steady tone through the pipes.Austin College’s organ has three keyboards or manualsand a pedalboard, which the organist plays to produce therange of notes and sounds in organ compositions.Pipes are arranged by timbre and pitch into ranks—orrows. (The Austin College organ’s 32 ranks are housed in theorgan case behind the stage.) The organist pulls stops toadmit air to each rank—the origin of the phrase “to pull outall the stops.”4 | Austin College MAGAZINE